BILL NUMBER: SBX2 85	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Burton

                        JUNE 11, 2001

   An act to add Section 368.5 to the Public Utilities Code, relating
to public utilities.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 85, as introduced, Burton.  Electrical restructuring:  rates.
   (1) Provisions of the Public Utilities Act restructuring the
electrical industry establish a process for the recovery by specified
electrical corporations of certain uneconomic costs during a
transition period that began on January 1, 1998, and ends for an
electrical corporation on the earlier of March 31, 2002, or the date
that the electrical corporation fully recovers its uneconomic costs.
Existing law imposes during the transition period a rate freeze and
a 10% rate reduction to remain in effect until March 31, 2002, unless
the electrical corporation fully recovers its uneconomic costs at an
earlier date.  Existing law provides for fixed transition amounts to
enable electric utility corporations to recover uneconomic costs
associated with electrical deregulation through a nonbypassable
charge on classes of customers until December 31, 2001, with
specified exceptions.
   This bill would provide that upon the termination of the 10% rate
reduction for residential and small commercial customers, as
described above, rates shall not increase to the levels that existed
prior to that reduction.  The bill would prohibit the Public
Utilities Commission from raising rates for residential and small
commercial customers upon the termination date of the 10% rate
reduction for residential and small commercial customers solely for
the purposes of restoring rates to the levels that existed prior to
the 10% rate reduction.  The bill would provide that its provisions
do not affect the authority of the commission to raise rates for
purposes other than the restoration of rates to the levels that
existed prior to the 10% rate reduction.  The bill would provide that
its provisions do not further extend the authority to impose fixed
transition amounts on customers or further authorize or extend rate
reduction bonds.  The bill would provide that to the extent its
provisions conflict with any other provision of the Public Utilities
Code, the provisions of this bill shall prevail.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting the
act adding this section, to not usurp the authority of the Public
Utilities Commission to set rates for electrical corporations.
  SEC. 2.  Section 368.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   368.5.  (a) Upon the termination date of the 10 percent rate
reduction for residential and small commercial customers set forth in
subdivision (a) of Section 368, rates shall not increase to the
levels that existed prior to the 10 percent rate reduction.  The
commission shall not raise rates for residential and small commercial
customers upon the termination date of the 10 percent rate reduction
for residential and small commercial customers set forth in
subdivision (a) of Section 368 solely for the purpose of restoring
rates to the levels that existed prior to the 10 percent rate
reduction.
   (b) The provisions of subdivision (a) shall not affect the
authority of the commission to raise rates for purposes other than
the restoration of rates to the levels that existed prior to the 10
percent rate reduction.
   (c) Nothing in this section shall further extend the authority to
impose fixed transition amounts, as defined in subdivision (d) of
Section 840, or further authorize or extend rate reduction bonds, as
defined in subdivision (e) of Section 840.
  SEC. 3.  To the extent the provisions of this act conflict with any
other provision of the Public Utilities Code, the provisions of this
act shall prevail.